Maharashtra building collapse toll rises to seven

Thane (Maharashtra), June 21 (IANS) At least seven people, including two minors, were killed after a three-storey building collapsed in Maharashtra's Mumbra town in Thane district early Friday, police said.

The incident occurred around 2 a.m. when the 35-year-old Shakuntala building came crashing down, catching the sleeping occupants unawares, an official of police control room in Thane said.

A three-month-old infant and a seven-year-old boy were among the seven people crushed to death, while 22 people were rescued till daybreak, the official added.

At least five-seven people, including members of a family, are still believed to be trapped under the rubble. The rescue operations are underway in full swing.

According to some reports, the residents of the building had been served an eviction notice some time ago by the civic authorities but they did not pay any heed to it.

Mumbra Mayor Harishchandra Patil said the civic body would soon make arrangements to shift people living in dilapidated and dangerous buildings to new rental houses which have been made available.

"We are finalising the rent, which may be around Rs.1,500, to be charged from the occupants so that they can be shifted there from dangerous structures," Patil told media persons from the scene of the tragedy.

The injured have been rushed to hospitals in Kalwa town and Thane city for treatment.